Hillstream loach tank questions

I did not go to the sale after all. A miracle. Hahaha. Had to go into work for awhile so missed the 9pm time and wasn't going to go look at the un-wanted stuff.
Loaches have been in qt for 3 weeks. Scuffles have almost stopped but they've been hanging out around the filter, grazing on the rocks, a little less playful than in the beginning. Don't know why. Water change tomorrow though and will be taking out some small plants that are just floating around the tank which I need gone.
I hope to order some gast. soon. Just waiting for them to get imported and getting some gobies...
I might get a custom tank done for the loaches as I do not like the length and width of the 20 as it does not let me add enough rocks in the back as I want. I need something around the same gallons though for it to be able to fit on my stand. I dislike how a 20 tall looks too.
 
UPDATE:
Bought my ctenos, finally:). Also bought a koralia. Well that's enough fish stuff for this month. Will have to sell the AC 50 if the koralia is quiet or get a refund...Can't wait til the ctenos get here. Hopefully not on a day I have class.
 
Seller messed up on the order and the other person received my stuff while I received hers. The gast are actually scitulus. Almost the same patterns:). Will be getting them on Tuesday. I'll post pictures during acclimation to quarantine on Tuesday before class as UPS drops it off around 10am and adding more rocks to the main tank so maybe a full tank shot if I have time.
 
What ferts are you using to try to grow algae? You need Phosphates. Most aquatic ferts don't have Phosphate to keep algae from growing. Also, you could seed it from someone's tank that has a bunch.
Here's a pic of my hillstream tank tonight. Obviously, you might not want the flowing algae, so you'd have to not seed it! Personally, I like it and it harbors a ton of microfauna that my fish seem to relish. Also keeps shrimp (and hopefully fry in the future) safe from my carnivores.
sQBK9.jpg
 
O, I have a lot of green algae water but for some odd reason, I cannot grow it in the tub I am using for the loaches even when I throw in some rocks in the algae tub. I'm using Plant Gro NPK as I have a whole bottle of it. It does grow but just too slowly and not enough for the loaches. I did try putting in some algae water into the tank but haven't seen anything.
 
I would have the window vase/tub but my mom would complain:). She lets me have as many tanks as I want but if it's just empty tubs like that, I can't keep them as she says if she spells the water, it's not her fault, too bad.
 
happypoet said:
oh, that's too bad! It's quite pretty when it goes to the green phase (the brown algae phase is not at all attractive!)
Click to expand...

I know. I like the green more too. I have some plants in the tank that has hair algae but it doesn't look like it is going to spread or either really slow to. I just hate the fact that when I want algae to grow, it never does but when I don't want it, it does.

My stock for this tank will most likely be:
3 sewellia
6 gastromyzon (if they survive quarantine)
a pair or two of either S. percnoptergyionus, atropurpureus, or semoni

if I decide not to upgrade and get the garras which may not happen as I cannot grow enough algae to feed the stock I want in the bigger tank.

For some odd reason, my LFS has been selling a lot of hillstream fishes for cheap. They're in the $5 or lower range but most are sold out when I go though so I never actually get to see what kind of fish...
 
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